14 Philadelphia Spots for Experiential Dining

In a vibrant food city like Philadelphia, dining can be more than just a great meal, top-notch service and a fair price. Philly restaurants are distinguishing themselves with interactive, international, entertaining, unusual, unforgettable, shared—in other words, experiential—dining experiences. The following list includes Korean barbecues, Brazilian rodizios, Ethiopian destinations, Italian trattorias and more:

1. Anastasi Seafood – This old-school family-owned restaurant, bar and seafood market anchors a busy corner of the historic 9^th Street Italian Market. Dining here means passing by glass cases of fresh, fragrant catches before sitting down to break open hard-shell crabs, then dipping the perfectly cooked crab meat in melted butter. 1101 S. 9^th Street, (215) 462-0550, anastasiseafood.com
2. Dahlak – Baltimore Avenue’s Eritrean and Ethiopian restaurant and bar is a popular, come-as-you-are, neighborhood meeting place for West Philly students, families and neighbors. Here, guests sit around low, basket-like tables, using spongy injera bread to scoop up stews and dishes while listening to a mix of pop and traditional Ethiopian music. Drinkers converge on the string-lighted back patio. 4708 Baltimore Avenue, (215) 726-6464, dahlakrestaurant.com
3. Fez Moroccan Restaurant & Hookah Bar – Tapestry-covered walls, comfy couches and trays set up for utensil-free feasts greet diners at Queen Village’s Moroccan hideaway. Long and luxurious group dinners begin with rounds of appetizers and segue into larger entrees, followed by fruit and sweets, and punctuated by sharing of the hookah and enjoyment of live belly dancing. 620 S. 2^nd Street, (215) 925-5367, fezrestaurant.com
4. Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ – This Logan Square restaurant specializes in Japanese yakiniku (barbeque). A personal grill graces each table, so hungry visitors cook their own miso-marinated steaks and vegetables and, at the end of the night, s’mores, while enjoying Japanese sake and beer. 1901 Callowhill Street, (267) 603-9482, gyu-kaku.com
5. Hippot Shabu Shabu – This Chinatown spot offers eaters build-their-own hot-pot adventures. Diners choose a broth, then cook their own steamy mixture of fresh vegetables, sprouts, tofu and meat slices or balls right at their table, dressing creations with offerings from a huge sauce bar of oils, spices, butters and vinegars. 1002 Arch Street, (215) 928-8838, facebook.com/hippotshabushabu
6. Kabul Afghan Cuisine – An Old City staple for more than 25 years features authentic Afghani fare, including buttery rice with plump raisins, vegetarian and meat stews. In a special corner in the back of the restaurant, diners can eat the traditional way: on the floor on pillows and rugs; Afghani musicians and dancers also occasionally make appearances. 106 Chestnut Street, (215) 922-3676, kabulafghancuisine.com
7. Kim’s Restaurant – Korean barbecue options abound in Philadelphia’s Olney neighborhood, but Kim’s is the only place that fuels fires with red hot lumps of natural charcoal. Tables here are packed with a generous selection of banchan (kimchi, steamed veggies, seaweed salad and other Korean sides), beer and shochu (a Japanese liquor), along with well-marinated beef, pork and chicken ready to sizzle on a tabletop grill. 5955 N. 5^th Street, (215) 927-4550
8. Lacroix - Champagne and caviar aside, Sunday brunch at The Rittenhouse Hotel is a special occasion. During this elegant meal, a buffet extends around the dining room and into the kitchen, giving guests the rare opportunity both to fill their plates and to peek into the inner workings of one of the city’s most beloved restaurants. 210 W. Rittenhouse Square, (215) 790-2533, lacroixrestaurant.com
9. Marrakech – This Moroccan destination in Society Hill invites diners to fill up on a half dozen courses—which they consume with their hands. Authenticity here means stimulating the senses with traditional dishes such as b’stella, a nutty and cinnamon-y aromatic chicken pie; aromas of incense, cumin and fresh mint tea; and textures of cooked eggplants and fluffy couscous. 517 S. Leithgow Street, (215) 925-5929, marrakesheastcoast.com
10. Perla – Kamayan is the utensil-free Filipino way of sharing a meal, and, at East Passyunk bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) Perla, rice, spring rolls, fried fish, veggies and sauces are all spread on banana leaves and eaten with the hands while diners share stories and drinks. It’s a guaranteed way to feel like part of the family at this restaurant, named for the chef-owner Lou Boquila’s mother. 1535 S. 11^th Calle, (267) 273-0008, perlaphilly.com
11. Asador brasileño Picanha – This no-frills buffet and grill in the heart of Northeast Philadelphia’s Brazilian community serves lunch, dinner, coffee and dessert. Diners could load up on plantains, yellow rice, stewed beef and more at the buffet, but Picanha’s rodízio—all-you-can-eat meats sliced right at the table—tends to fill guests to the brim with chicken, beef, lamb and more. 6501 Castor Avenue, (215) 743-4647, picanhagrill.com
12. Royal Sushi & Izakaya - There are plenty of sushi counters in Philadelphia, but this Southwark nine-seater in the back of a dimly lit barroom features a most intimate experience with chef-owner Jesse Ito. A maximum of three seatings each night allow Ito to carefully guide guests through the Japanese provenance and expert techniques he uses to craft a multi-course omakase (tasting menu). 780 S. 2^nd Street, (267) 909-9002, royalsushiandizakaya.com
13. Spice C – In the back of the dining room of this friendly Chinatown walk-up, chefs prepare noodles through a window, weaving, stretching and dividing the pliable dough with great flourish. The menu offers both thin, hand-drawn noodles and a craggy hand-shaved version, both destined for brothy chicken or beef soups and hearty stir fries. 131 N. 10^th Street, (215) 923-2222, spicenoodle.com
14. Café Víctor - This South Philly Italian restaurant bills itself as “a music lover’s rendezvous,” which is appropriate both for the venue, a former gramophone shop, and for its servers, who all sing opera as they work. Between running plates of chicken piccata and fettuccine verde, singing servers burst into ballads. 1303 Dickinson Street, (215) 468-3040, victorcafe.com

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